Alexandra Chung1,2, Anna Peeters2, Emma Gearon1,2, Kathryn Backholer2. 1. School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. 2. Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In high-income countries, children with a lower socio-economic position (SEP) are more likely to gain excess weight compared with children with a higher SEP. The extent to which children's consumption of discretionary food and drinks contributes to the development of these inequalities over childhood has not been examined. METHODS: The study sample comprised 3190 children from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted in accordance with the product of coefficients mediation method to determine the contribution of cumulative consumption of sweet drinks, discretionary hot foods, savoury snacks and sweet snacks from the first year of life, over a period of 10 years, on the relationship between SEP and children's body mass index (BMI) z-score at age 10-11 years. RESULTS: At age 10-11, mean BMI z-score was 0.17 in the highest SEP tertile, 0.33 in the middle and 0.47 in the lowest tertile. Corresponding values for overweight and obesity prevalence were 16.6%, 25.7% and 32.7%, respectively. Eleven per cent [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.77%, 19.84%] of the observed difference in BMI z-score at age 10-11 years was mediated by socio-economic differences in consumption of sweet drinks and discretionary hot foods including pies and hot chips throughout childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that consumption of sweet drinks and discretionary hot food, from the first year of life, is likely to contribute to the development of inequalities in excess weight among children. Poor dietary intake is a key risk factor for excess weight gain among children and a reduction in discretionary food and drinks is likely to contribute to the dual goal of improving overall weight and reducing socio-economic inequalities in weight gain across childhood. To maximally reduce inequalities in weight gain across childhood, additional determinants must also be identified and targeted.
BACKGROUND: In high-income countries, children with a lower socio-economic position (SEP) are more likely to gain excess weight compared with children with a higher SEP. The extent to which children's consumption of discretionary food and drinks contributes to the development of these inequalities over childhood has not been examined. METHODS: The study sample comprised 3190 children from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted in accordance with the product of coefficients mediation method to determine the contribution of cumulative consumption of sweet drinks, discretionary hot foods, savoury snacks and sweet snacks from the first year of life, over a period of 10 years, on the relationship between SEP and children's body mass index (BMI) z-score at age 10-11 years. RESULTS: At age 10-11, mean BMI z-score was 0.17 in the highest SEP tertile, 0.33 in the middle and 0.47 in the lowest tertile. Corresponding values for overweight and obesity prevalence were 16.6%, 25.7% and 32.7%, respectively. Eleven per cent [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.77%, 19.84%] of the observed difference in BMI z-score at age 10-11 years was mediated by socio-economic differences in consumption of sweet drinks and discretionary hot foods including pies and hot chips throughout childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that consumption of sweet drinks and discretionary hot food, from the first year of life, is likely to contribute to the development of inequalities in excess weight among children. Poor dietary intake is a key risk factor for excess weight gain among children and a reduction in discretionary food and drinks is likely to contribute to the dual goal of improving overall weight and reducing socio-economic inequalities in weight gain across childhood. To maximally reduce inequalities in weight gain across childhood, additional determinants must also be identified and targeted.
Authors: I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra; Thomas Astell-Burt; Dylan P Cliff; Stewart A Vella; Xiaoqi Feng Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2022-01-17 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Katherine A Thurber; Johanna Long; Minette Salmon; Adolfo G Cuevas; Raymond Lovett Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2019-08-28 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Lily Grigsby-Duffy; Ruby Brooks; Tara Boelsen-Robinson; Miranda R Blake; Kathryn Backholer; Claire Palermo; Anna Peeters Journal: Health Promot Int Date: 2022-10-01 Impact factor: 3.734
Authors: Rachel Sutherland; Alison Brown; Nicole Nathan; Lisa Janssen; Renee Reynolds; Alison Walton; Nayerra Hudson; Amelia Chooi; Serene Yoong; John Wiggers; Andrew Bailey; Nicole Evans; Karen Gillham; Christopher Oldmeadow; Andrew Searles; Penny Reeves; Chris Rissel; Marc Davies; Kathryn Reilly; Brad Cohen; Tim McCallum; Luke Wolfenden Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-11-12 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Zongjian Yang; Hai Phung; Ann-Maree Hughes; Sommer Sherwood; Emily Harper; Paul Kelly Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-11-12 Impact factor: 3.295